When the artwork for a stamp is created and approved, experienced engravers employed by the printers of bank notes and other currency accurately transfer the original artist's design on to a soft steel sheet, called a die, using special engraving tools. In the case of the Jacques Cartier stamp, the artwork was sent to French engraver Claude Haley (1923-1988). Originally, a large number of designs were created using the same dimensions as the stamp, but today the artwork is usually five times larger than the stamp. The dimensions of the engraved "mirror image" are often greatly reduced compared with the original artwork, and this reduction work requires patience and skill on the engraver's part, because the design must be transferred accurately from one medium to another.

Progressive proofs are made on thick paper at different stages in the process to ensure that the engraving is satisfactory. These proofs are also sent to the competent authority issuing the stamp for the purposes of comments, approval and preservation. The approval of the die proofs allows the printer to move on to creating the transfer roll (or transfer cylinder) and the printing base.

When the die bearing the image of the stamp has been officially approved and has hardened, it is pressed by a small soft steel roll (transfer cylinder) under the high pressure exerted by the transfer press: the design is taken up on the roll, as a relief transfer.

The image thus obtained is the exact reverse of the one engraved on the die.

Once again, the roll is hardened and then used to create the metal printing plate which will carry many images of the stamp, and the stamps are printed using this plate.

Each of the stamp images on the printing plate must be the exact copy of the one on the original die. When the specialized engravers who make the plate are satisfied with it, it is hardened and is then ready to be used for the printing process. This phase of stamp production is termed siderography.

Just as in the preparation of the die, progressive proofs are made at various stages of the printing to establish if there is a need to modify any part of the printing base. When this is approved, the complete, final printing plates are prepared in the stamp issue colour. The printer or the organization issuing the stamp usually keeps these plate proofs in its permanent files. These documents authorize the printer to print the official stamp. The partial plate proof of the Jacques Cartier stamp, created by the Imprimerie des timbres-poste de France, is special, with 23 different colour trials for a group of 50 stamps. The final colours appear on the stamp in the lower right corner.